Animetic Potentiality and

the Boundaries of the

NarrativeAn Attempt at Involving Bergson, Simondon and Deleuze in Anime Studies

Alba G. Torrents

albagtorrents@gmail.com

(Japan Foundation Fellowship / Universitat Autnoma de Barcelona )

1. Introduction: anime, narrativity and

temporality

Temporality in certain anime

Extra-narrative / narrative

Bergson (dure and virtuality), Simondon (individuation, transduction and apeiron) and Deleuze (difference)

1. Introduction: anime, narrativity and

temporality

Extra-narrative elements: the ones that resist absorption into the narrative. (But they are not extra-narrative

elements per se!!)

Relation between narrativity and extra-narrative in connection to temporality:

Narrativity: follow certain order, divisible in parts, closed set, something of the order of the individual (already interpreted)

Extra-narrative: defy-temporal logic of narrative, break the closure of the narrative order.

2. The philosophy of Bergson, Simondon and

Deleuze on potentiality and temporality

Dure

Virtual

Difference

Potentiality

Temporality

Individuation

2.1. Bergson: Dure and Virtual

Dure

2.1. Bergson: Dure and Virtual

Dure =

Heterogeneity in continuity

Qualitative multiplicity

Asymmetry

Production of novelty

Virtual =

Memory

That which is real and possible at once

Real possible

Opposed to actual (but not the real)

2.2. Simondon: Individuation, apeiron

and potentiality

Ontogenesis

(phasic being)

Being as a permanent process of

problem-solving

Processes of individuation

2.2. Simondon: Individuation, apeiron

and potentiality

Physic level

Vital level Psychic level

Collective level

Apeiron / Indetermination / Pre-individual

Process of transduction = Process of individuation

Potentiality

2.3. Deleuze: difference

2. The philosophy of Bergson, Simondon and

Deleuze on potentiality and temporality

Two different forms of temporality

Identity

Individuality

Abstract spatiality

Product-time

Creative process of self-differentation

Dure

Process-time

3. Analysis on Revolutionary Girl Utena, Serial

Experiments Lain and Puella Magi Madoka

Magica

3.1. Revolutionary Girl Utena: linear

temporality

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

3.1. Revolutionary Girl Utena: circular

temporality

3.1. Revolutionary Girl Utena: static

temporality

3.1. Revolutionary Girl Utena: Time of

the promised revolution

3.1. Revolutionary Girl Utena

Four different forms of temporality

Linear temporality

Circular temporality

Static form of temporality

Time of the promised revolution (potentiality / virtuality)

Product time

Process time

3.1. Revolutionary Girl Utena

3.1. Revolutionary Girl Utena

Simulacra of

the main story

Se

lf-co

nsc

iou

s

na

rrativ

e

Extra-narrativity and

precariousness of the

narrativity

3.1. Revolutionary Girl Utena

Revolution begins

(I promise Itll be a revolution)

I promised a revolution!

Revolution is done

3.1. Revolutionary Girl Utena: This is

(not) the end of the world

No possibility for

identity

Pure event

3.2. Serial experiments Lain

3.3. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

3.3. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Quotidian World Magical World

3.3. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Conclusions

Philosophies of Bergson, Simondon and Deleuze

as the proper tools to decipher temporality in

anime.

Anime as Thinking

Devices